This is a truly touching story which emphasizes the importance and effectiveness of home visits. This one probably changed this little girl’s perception of school- giving her something to look forward to instead of dread- the math club!

A few years ago, I was called to translate by a social worker at a primary school. A teacher had complained that one of her students never looked her in the eye when spoken to and was painfully shy. The child never participated in class unless it was obligatory and only under duress. She was frequently absent, particularly on days when she had to make a presentation before the class. However, the student was very bright, with excellent grades and careful, neat work. The social worker wanted me to contact the parents and arrange a meeting to discuss a special education placement.

Some intuition obliged me to wonder about the need for special education. I stepped out of my usually neutral role as interpreter and asked the social worker why it was necessary. The more questions I asked, the more both of us questioned the recommendation. I…

It is an urgent matter to prepare schools for immigrant and immigrant children. Excerpt:

The nation’s foreign-born population is projected to reach 78 million by 2060, making up 18.8 percent of the total U.S. population, according to new Census Bureau population projections. So there’s no time like the present for improving intervention and support systems for immigrant-origin children and their families.